21 July 2015

In Ramadi today, security forces in the southern sector are now 200 meters away from the Anbar University campus after having cleared all of the areas to the south. The forces, supported by People's Mobilization and tribal fighters, have also taken control of the areas between the university and western Ramadi. Fighting has also been taking place in the areas separating the city's outskirts and the Euphrates in the city's northern sector. Security sources are reporting that their forces now control 80% of the areas east and northeast of the city. Meanwhile, Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have been targeting positions around the city's perimeter and other ISIL positions within the city. Security forces have reported that at least 12 gunmen were killed by the strikes. Dozens of families are still making their way out of the city in response to loudspeaker calls for such an exit, even though ISIL gunmen have still been trying to prevent the evacuation.

In Fallujah, security forces have moved their front lines closer into the city; fierce clashes erupted in the Saqlawiya area, as the government forces stretched their control over the main Fallujah-Baghdad Highway. Indiscriminate bombardments by security forces on the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city have, according to the General Hospital's report, killed 7 residents, including 3 women and one child, and injured at least 23 others. Meanwhile ISIL gunmen are still preventing Fallujah residents from leaving their city. The ones that succeed in leaving are heading for the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing that has been closed for four days.

The humanitarian situation there is dismal, especially during the current summer heat, as a result of the shortages of foodstuffs and the lack of relief aid.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, ISIL mortar fire has again struck the town's southern reaches.

In Garma, security forces are still trying to fight their way into the town center. 

19 July 2015

In Ramadi today and after four days of fighting, security forces have been able to liberate the southern sector's Tash 1 and Tash 2 areas up to the Anbar University. Security forces and the 'Golden' Brigade  have announced that their forces are within one kilometer of the University where they have fully surrounded the campus.

Security forces have also liberated areas between Eastern Husayba and the Mudhef areas east of Ramadi. Iraqi and Coalition air craft and army artillery have also bombarded a number of ISIL-held positions along the eastern and northeastern fronts of Ramadi. The security forces have reported killing at least 72 ISIL gunmen, including 17 snipers, in the Ramadi clashes. Intelligence revealed today by Anbar Operations shows that ISIL gunmen are pulling back from the city's perimeter areas toward the Ramadi City center. Meanwhile ISIL families are evacuating the city, heading toward Hit Township. The gunmen have also blown up the 'Olympic Stadium' in Ramadi's western sector. They have also planted explosives in a number of the city's buildings that they plan to detonate as they withdraw. The gunmen are also pursuing some of their fighters who have abandoned the fight and fled.

In Fallujah, security forces have today completed the liberation of Saqlawiya Township in western Fallujah. Clashes in the city's outskirts have killed at least 12 gunmen. Meanwhile, large numbers of Fallujah families have been evacuating the city, heading for Baghdad via the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing. 15 ISIL gunmen who had infiltrated the ranks of the refugees were arrested there today and are being held by Anbar Police in Amiriyat Al-Fallujah.

In Garma, most of the town is now under security forces' control, but fierce fighting is continuing for the town's center.

In Haditha and Baghdadi, there have been clashes in the riverside areas across the Euphrates from Baghdadi and around the town's southern residential complex.

17 July 2015

In Ramadi  today, security forces have established control over areas around Ramadi while tightening their stranglehold on the eastern areas where they are now in total control of eastern Husayba and Juwayba, and of the areas across the river from the city. Fierce clashes have been underway in the eastern outskirts where 3 explosives-rigged were blown up before the ISIL gunmen could drive them toward their intended targets. Military operations have also been underway in the southern and southwestern outskirts of the city, and in the city's western areas. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes today have killed at least 13 ISIL gunmen in the southwestern sector. In northern Ramadi, security forces have taken control of the Ramadi-Fallujah Highway, and are now slowly advancing into the city. They are having to clear numerous explosive devices along their way, an effort that is hampering their advance. Meanwhile, security forces have established three routes through which many Ramadi families are departing the city.

In Fallujah, the city is surrounded on six fronts; military operations are underway in the city's southwestern outskirts, including Saqlawiya, and eastward alongside the Fallujah-Baghdad Highway. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have also targeted ISIL positions within Fallujah. The General Hospital is reporting that 8 residents, including one child, have been killed, and at least 15 injured, including 4 women.

Air strikes have also been launched at the areas around Garma, but in spite of the advances made by security forces into the town, they have yet to take full control of the town center.

Meanwhile ISIL gunmen are still preventing civilians from leaving Fallujah where they are using them as human shields, but security forces have been able to establish two routes that Fallujah families can use to leave the city. Those who left are still stranded and facing the closure of the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing.

27 June 2015

In Ramadi, security forces are still consolidating their stranglehold on the city's perimeter. Sources are reporting that military supplies and equipment have arrived today, and that more than 1,000 People's Mobilization fighters from Ramadi itself are to be deployed in support of the security forces. There were some clashes on the eastern ans northeastern outskirts of the city.

Iraqi and Coalition aircraft have carried out a number of sorties against several positions within the city,and an Anbar Operations source has confirmed that at least 12 ISIL gunmen were killed in northeastern Ramadi.

In Fallujah today, the ongoing indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city have, as per a General Hospital source, killed 8 residents, including 3 children and a woman, and wounded 9 others, in the northern and central residential districts of Fallujah.

In Garma, security forces have now penetrated 3 km. deep into the town and established control over the southern industrial sector and the areas between Garma and the Salahuddin Province boundary. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes are reported to have killed at least 4 ISIL gunmen and destroyed 4 of their vehicles that were about to be booby-trapped.

The humanitarian situation remains unchanged in various parts of Ramadi and Khalidiya, as well as the Amiriyat al-Fallujah, the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing, and the tourist village at Habbaniya. All the families at all these encampments are struggling with the summer heat, the lack of electricity, and severe shortages of food supplies.

24 June 2015

Iraqi aircraft have attacked number of positions today in the Akashat area of Al-Qaim township on the Syrian border. Sources have reported that at least 47 ISIL gunmen were killed in the raids.

The attacks were made following intelligence reports of special gatherings and meetings in that area.

In Ramadi, military operations are still ongoing along the city’s perimeter. Security forces have today killed at least 11 gunmen in the eastern and northeastern outskirts of Ramadi.

Iraqi air support has also struck targets and positions in central Ramadi; a number of civilians were killed by mortar fire striking the city’s central marketplace.

In Fallujah, heavy bombardment has again struck a number of the city’s residential districts. This was part of the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. A General Hospital source reported today that 7 residents have been killed and 19 wounded by the bombardments.

In Garma, fierce clashes are still going on and heavy bombardment has targeted the town’s central districts and the Sichir area. Six civilians have been killed and 3 wounded.

In Baghdadi, strong calls have been made bylocal residents to the central government for urgent food aid, following ISIL’s seizure of the town’s perimeter and the blockade it has imposed that has been preventing the arrival of any relief aid.

Meanwhile thousands of families are experiencing severe living conditions in Bzaybiz, Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, and Khalidiyah encampments.

20 June 2015

In Ramadi today, joint security forces supported by People’s Mobilization fighters along the city’s perimeter thwarted two attacks by ISIL gunmen: the first was in the Eastern Husayba area east of Ramadi, where fierce clashes enabled security forces to fend off the attack, while Iraqi air support struck a number of ISIL convoys, setting ablaxe a number of their vehicles; the second attack was in the southwestern sector of the city, where security forces also turned back the attackers after fierce clashes with the gunmen.

Meanwhile Iraqi gun ships attacked a number of ISIL positions in northeastern Ramadi. Security forces are still in a  state of readiness for the imminent military campaign to liberate Ramadi. There are reports that Iraqi gun ships have dropped flyers calling on the residents to evacuate the city in order to stay out of harm’s way during the campaign.

In Fallujah today, military operations are underway in the city’s southwestern sector; 3 suicide bombers attempted to blow themselves up at a barracks in the sector, but were thwarted by security forces; 8 gunmen were killed in the ensuing clashes.

Security forces are still fighting over the control of Garma’s town center.

A Fallujah General Hospital source has reported that 3 children were and 9 residents wounded by the ongoing indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces controlling the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen within the city.

In western Anbar, Haditha and Baghdadi Townships are relatively calm today; no clashes have been reported in either area.

The humanitarian situation is still unchanged, with hundreds or thousands of families still sheltering in refugee camps in Khalidiya, Habbaniya, Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, and at the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing. Food aid is only trickling in, while summer temperatures are exacerbating the suffering during these early days of Ramadan.

18 June 2015

An Anbar Operations source has announced that security forces have today succeeded in overrunning the center of Garma and have established control over broad portions of the center that is regarded as being one of the last of ISIL’s strongholds.

Meanwhile the Anbar Police Command has denied reports that an Iraqi Army helicopter has been shot down.

In Fallujah, clashes and mortar fire have intensified between the security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. The General Hospital reported today that 7 residents, including 2 children and one woman have been killed and 9 wounded by the random bombardment exchanges. 

In Ramadi, strict security measures and precautions are in place amid the military preparations in the city’s suburbs. Iraqi gun ships have again carried out air strikes in a number of Ramadi’s districts, including Hawz and Al-Andalus.

Elsewhere in Anbar, the commanding officer of the Jazeera and Badiya Operations, Nasser Al-Ghannam, has asked the Defense Ministry to relieve him of his command, apparently in response to ‘frivolous’ actions at the Ministry.

Security forces and Iraqi air support have thwarted ISIL attempts to gain control of the Baghdadi and Haditha areas. 

On this first day of Ramadan, hundreds of migrant families are still stalled at the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing and in Amiriyat al-Fallujah, where they are experiencing severe hardships coinciding with the rise in temperatures and the lack of foodstuffs and other humanitarian needs.

13 June 2015

Since 04:00 this morning, ISIL gunmen have attacked the southwestern residential compound of Baghdadi. They reached the outer walls of the compound where a number of gunmen detonated the suicide vests they were wearing. But while the attackers were infiltrating into the compound, security forces supported by tribal fighters within the compound succeeded in turning back the attackers, as Iraqi gun ships targeted number of vehicles used in the attack. At least 21 of the gunmen were killed, according to a statement by the 7^th Division Commander at the Ayn al-Asad military base.

An Anbar Council source announced today the arrival of 80 U.S. military advisers at the Habbaniya Base; they are the first group of advisers who will be training the Iraqi security forces, particularly the Anbar volunteers of the People’s Mobilization fighters.

4 ISIL gunmen were killed in clashes in the eastern outskirts of Ramadi, between Al-Khalidiya to the east and Ramadi City. Military operations are continuing in eastern Ramadi. Iraqi air support has struck a number of sites in the various areas along the city’s perimeter.

Military operations are continuing in the assault on Garma Township, with security forces now in control of the southwestern sector of the township; fierce fighting is also continuing within the town, aand in the districts around its center.

In Fallujah, 4 residents are reported to have been killed and 9 wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been controlling the city for more than one year.

The humanitarian situation of the migrants sheltering in Amiriyat al-Fallujah and at the Bzaybiz Bridge remains unchanged, with many families sheltering in camps and in unfinished buildings, and still dealing with the severe food shortages and the lack of relief aid. They are calling for government action to provide them with the wherewithal to survive the approaching month of Ramadan.

31 May 2015

Fighting is continuing along the outskirts of Ramadi; security forces have now surrounded the city on four fronts, according to the Anbar Police Chief. Some of the areas in southern Ramadi have witnessed clashes and shelling, with security forces  now at the approaches to the 5 km and 7 km districts in westernmost Ramadi.

Meanwhile, Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes have struck a number of ISIL positions in central Ramadi, with at least 13 gunmen reported killed.

Military equipment has also been delivered to the Khalidiya and Habbaniya areas, and new centers have been open to sign up volunteers in Khalidiya.

In Fallujah today, the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city has wounded more than 76 residents and killed at least 11, mostly women and children, in a number of the city’s residential districts.

At the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing, thousands of migrants have been provided with relief aid by the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and the International Red Cross.

25 May 2015

Since the early hours of this morning, Iraqi Army forces supported by Iraqi gun ships, the People’s Mobilization, and tribal fighters are engaged in a broad military operation in Ramadi’s eastern areas, particularly the areas adjacent to Khalidiya and eastern Husayba; these areas have now been secured, while at least 12 ISIL gunmen were killed.

Meanwhile, Iraqi gun ships have bombarded a number of buildings being used by ISIL snipers.

Also today, large numbers of the People’s Mobilization have arrived to bring their total so far to more than 7,000 fighters.

There are also reports that the security forces are preparing for a major military operation to liberate Ramadi in the next few days.

Also this morning, Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes launched a number of strikes against a number of areas in Ramadi: in the Bu-Farraj, Al-Andalus, and the industrial districts, in addition to targets in central Ramadi. Three members of the ISIL leadership have been reported killed in the eastern Bu-Farraj area.

In Haditha, ISIL launched an early morning attack, but security forces and Iraqi gun ships repelled the attack, killing at least 35 ISIL gunmen.

In Baghdadi, the security situation is in turmoil as a result of repeated attacks by the gunmen on the residential complex in central Baghdadi, where fighting is still underway.

In Fallujah, hospital sources have reported that 7 residents were killed and 5 were wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

The humanitarian situation of the migrants remains unchanged, with thousands of families still stranded near the Bzaybiz Bridge; they have not yet been able to cross into Baghdad.

21 May 2015

In eastern Ramadi, particularly in eastern Husayba and Juwayba, military operations are still underway; ISIL gunmen launched their third attack on those areas but security forces supported by tribal fighters repelled a fierce attack on eastern Husayba. They were able to establish new front lines in the area, while Iraqi gun ships carried out strikes on positions in the eastern Ramadi areas.

Meanwhile, additional reinforcements have reached the Habbaniya Base and the Khalidiya area in easternmost Ramadi. Preparations are reported underway for a major military operation to be launched within two days.

Meanwhile, coalition warplanes have attacked a number of targets in Ramadi, especially in its southern sector and on towards the northernmost areas of the city.

Military operations are also continuing in the city’s southwestern sector where Iraqi gun ships have bombarded suspected ISIL positions. Anbar Operations and police sources have reported that at least 23 gunmen were killed in these attacks.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital has reported that 6 residents were killed and 7 wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city for more than one year. Military operations are also continuing in the city’s southwestern industrial zone.

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, mortar fire has struck the town’s central districts; in the areas between the town and the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing, thousands of families and residents are still encamped and suffering from severe shortages of food, water, and medicines.

19 May 2015

Military operations are still underway in the eastern areas of Ramadi, where ISIL have taken over the Juwayba and wide areas of eastern Husayba and fierce fighting is still underway there.

Security forces have repelled three ISIL attacks on eastern Husayba in Khalidiya township. All security forces in the area have been ordered to gather within 24 hours in the areas that are being targeted by the gunmen to prevent them from taking control of the vast area between Habbaniya and Amiriyat al-Fallujah.

Security forces today also repelled a strong attack on the southern areas of Khalidiya. Meanwhile Iraqi and coalition planes carried out a number of sorties against target areas in eastern Anbar.

Air strikes have also been launched against a number of Ramadi areas; coalition warplanes have launched 19 air strikes on ISIL positions, reportedly killing dozens of the gunmen.

Amiriyat al-Fallujah was heavily bombarded overnight with ISIL targeting most of the town’s residential districts killing one resident and wounding 6.

In Fallujah, fighting has continued in the city’s southern industrial area. Nine residents were killed and 23 were wounded by the random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

There are still more than 12,000 people being held up at the Bzaybiz access route where the actual crossing point toward Baghdad is now closed. Some basic relief aid has reached the massed migrants at the crossing who are without any kind of shelter and are in urgent need of food supplies.

19 April 2015

A three-front military operation has been launched in the Sufiya area following the deployment of forces from the ‘Golden’ Division, Rapid Deployment units, and Anti-terrorism units around the town’s perimeter. Reports from Anbar Operations and Anbar Police indicate that these forces have successfully taken control of 50% of the Sufiya areas and Street 100 that runs along the northern sector of Ramadi where security forces have taken control of the city center areas.

Since the early hours of this morning the government complex in the city center has been under attack from the southern sector by ISIL gunmen, but security forces with Iraqi air support have successfully repelled the attack, killing dozens of the attacking gunmen.

Military operations are still underway in the Bu-Farraj area where security forces have secured 60% of the area. Iraqi air support and coalition warplanes have also carried out sorties on targets in Bu-Farraj and its surrounding areas.

Major military reinforcements have arrived today in Ramadi, including equipment, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition.

In Baghdadi, military operations are continuing following the ISIL gunmen’s success in penetrating into the town. Security forces are still repelling the gunmen’s attacks. Iraqi air support and coalition warplanes have also attacked positions in the town’s eastern areas.

Thousands of families are still migrating across the Bzaybiz footbridge into the capital, Baghdad.

Amiriyat al-Fallujah is still experiencing severe humanitarian hardship because incoming aid is so insufficient, according to migrants who have fled the eastern and northeastern sectors of Ramadi.